Haider Rifaat

The Murder Of Marilyn Monroe is a 2017 political-thriller documentary film starring Haider Rifaat as Hayden Misha, a private investigator who unwillingly decides to pursue one of the most controversial cases of the 20th century.

Pakistan does not bleed green anymore; it bleeds red. I know what this country stood for in the past; freedom, happiness, a brighter future for our children, but it does no longer. What is there to celebrate about? Despite Pakistan being freed from a tangled web of hypocrisy and hatred, this country has not lived up to its strength. Millions of Pakistanis gallivant off to celebrate Pakistan’s independence each year and discount the victims of hate crimes, social injustices, domestic terrorism and desolation. A nation should only celebrate its independence if it has lived up its motto. We have lashed out the slogan ‘Unity, Faith & Discipline’ all the way.

We have taken Quaid-e-Azam’s motto for granted for decades and nothing has been done to relinquish its core essence. Pakistan is regressing day by day and the bitter reality remains disclosed; hypocrisy and blatant lies. As a nation, we are well aware of Pakistan’s struggle in view of political, social and economic unrest. Despite that, no one cares to rectify the mistakes. My country might have green and white embroidered on its flag; but hypocrites running this nation do not deserve to raise the flag in the air. Pakistan has become a breeding ground for terrorists. This country never stood for democracy. None of the previous governments have been answerable to the people. They have only accomplished their own agendas. While children are abducted each year, the authorities and responsible agencies hold their fire for tons of cash to get the job done. Sadly, Pakistan has been exploited, misused and subjugated all these years.

My home country is not the same anymore. It has become a money-hungry, corrupt and hypocritical nation. After completing four years, a new government assumes the office and the monotonous routine continues to blemish the identity of Pakistan. The colors green and white have been misrepresented these past decades. There is nothing holy or sacred about Pakistan. Islam is misinterpreted while minorities are murdered each day for practicing their religion. There is no freedom whatsoever. Honor killings, rape, child abuse, hypocrisy and poverty are on an all-time rise. Similarly, the elite class bathes in black money and so does the media. You know who is bound to celebrate independence? Those who have seen their country blossom each year, not wither.

The PM’s presence in the office is of no use by the end of the day. Nawaz Sharif’s agenda is his own. It is not for Pakistan’s progression. Our government has lied to us all these years and we still haven’t learned from the past. Pakistanis are no different. They have assumed a similar role as our government, opting for paths that are dark and gloomy. The sad reality, however is that we have no regrets. Pakistan was dead a long time ago when the Army Public School in Peshawar was attacked by homegrown terrorists. Pakistan lost faith in its people when Osama Bin Laden was found in Abbottabad, Pakistan. We do not deserve Pakistan. For me, it is a utopic fantasy. I dream about Pakistan each day and wonder, who am I, really? Am I Pakistani? Pakistan has distanced itself from all of us and we deserve it.

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is one of those rare action films that any avid fan could watch twice on an opening weekend. To begin with, Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner were both great in the film and worked well as a team; not to forget the stellar performance delivered by Rebecca Ferguson who was spot on in every scene. But before I proceed, I’d also like to mention that Cruise still has a long way to go in his career. He just never seems to age!

‘Rogue Nation’ is the fifth installment in the ‘Mission Impossible’ film series that centers on Ethan Hunt and his quest to unravel the existence of Syndicate, an organization gone rogue that poses a threat to IMF. This action packed thriller is perhaps the best film in the ‘Mission Impossible’ film franchise. It was fun, entertaining and thrilling all at the same time. As always Tom Cruise owned his character in the film. Since this was Ferguson’s first film with Cruise and I hadn’t seen any of her movies prior to watching this, I found her bracing presence in the movie quite refreshing. She is a great actress in my humble opinion.

Jeremy Renner’s rather insignificant role was worthy of praise given his unique acting talent. His gentleman-like character was well conceived by the writer(s). The film’s plot, from the start till the end was thought provoking. Although the story was a bit muddled during the first half hour, it picked up right after Syndicate (an organization working to take down IMF) was introduced.
The action was perhaps, the most enticing aspect of the film. The fighting scenes were spot on and the acting was brilliant. Overall, the movie was well directed and written. Although ‘Rogue Nation’ had its ups and downs alike every other movie, one cannot expect too much from any film.

Speaking of which, ‘Rogue Nation’ has performed exceedingly well overseas especially in the U.S. where it collected $56 million dollars on its opening weekend. Additionally, the film was lauded by many critics who praised Cruise’s performance in particular.

Christopher Orr of The Atlantic commented, “You overcome the impossible through the application of sheer, unvarnished willpower, a quality that Cruise has always possessed in abundance.”

While Ty Burr of the Boston Globe called ‘Rogue Nation’ ‘preposterously enjoyable.’

There were, however, a few elements that seemed slightly out of place. Aside from the roaring action, ‘Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation’ depicted stunts that no one could experience in the real world. That, for me was the only turn off. All in all, if you’re looking to spend good two hours on a film, give ‘Rogue Nation’ a shot!

Murders are easy to commit but hard to cover up these days. However, there is one television show that completely contradicts my humble statement. The new mystery-thriller drama, ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ has somewhat revolutionized the television landscape. The series is about five freshman college students and their mysterious criminal law professor who get embroiled in a dangerous murder plot. The show stars the Academy Award nominee, Viola Davis as Professor Annalise Keating, a sophisticated defense attorney who runs her own law firm. The series also stars Alfred Enoch, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King and Karla Souza.

What makes ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ a stellar television show is the legendary, Viola Davis. Her character, Annalise Keating has been portrayed as a powerful mid-aged woman who does not take no for an answer. Hats off to the creator of the show, Peter Nowalk who came up with this bold idea! I, for one, strongly advocate those dramas that depict a woman’s character as strong and resilient unlike some misleading television shows I had the misfortune of coming across. Another gripping factor that compelled me to watch this exciting new show was Viola Davis’s bracing screen presence. Her acting is simply mesmerizing, no questions asked!

There are very few actors who have the ability to live up to their characters but Davis’s commitment to her role is worthy of praise. Furthermore, Jack Falahee who portrays Connor Walsh in the show is also a great addition to the cast. I strongly believe that there are very few female lead characters in today’s television shows, especially black women. So, keeping this factor in mind, it is quite an accomplishment to see a black American woman as inspiring as Viola Davis on the small screen. ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ also suppresses the modern-day stereotype about women who cannot stand up for themselves. Moreover, the show indirectly empowers those underprivileged women and young girls who are incapable of leading independent lives.

Keeping the superiority factor aside, the show seems quite promising and has a lot to offer to its loyal fans in the first season. ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ has generated a huge fan base owing to the show’s unique storyline and plot twists. The steady ratings have played a pivotal role in the show’s success. For those passionate TV lovers who enjoy forty five minutes of endless entertainment, I strongly recommend you watch this show. Trust me, once you watch the pilot episode, you will soon be begging for more. Although the show seems slightly misleading as it condones murder cover ups, but it is for everyone’s entertainment and no television show should be taken seriously. ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ has already been nominated for some prestigious awards including the ‘Golden Globes.’ The remainder of the first season will debut in the end of this month. So, keep your eyes fixed on the television screens!

The freshman thriller TV show, ‘Eye Candy’ is one week away before concluding its first season. The show stars Victoria Justice as Lindy Sampson, a brilliant hacker who makes it her mission to search for an online serial killer in New York City while juggling her personal and professional life. The show made a decent series debut this year attracting a little over 0.6 million viewers on original airings. Although such ratings are relatively lower as compared to other hit MTV shows.

In last night’s episode, we discovered who the real Flirtual killer was. It was none other than Lindy’s psychotic love interest, Jake Bolin. Being a huge fan of thriller television shows, I believe that we, as viewers, were already given a hint about Jake’s dark side prior to his revelation as the actual killer. The ninth episode was quite a package for all ‘Eye Candy’ fans. It had drama, thriller and a tad bit of neo-noir edge to it. I, for one savored every moment of the episode. It was worth the watch!

But the real question is, will the show be renewed for a second season? Although many fans want the series to be renewed, but will MTV give ‘Eye Candy’ the benefit of the doubt before cancelling the show? Being a passionate fan of the series, I believe the show should be renewed for a second season. The series has managed to garner over 0.6 million viewers per episode. Even if the finale episode generates a million viewers, we might get some fruitful news from MTV in the coming weeks. Let’s just hope ‘Eye Candy’ gets renewed for a fresh season, but until then, stay tuned for the season finale set to air on March 16th, 2015 at 10PM on MTV.

The freshman drama series ‘Stalker’ that made its debut on October 1st, 2014 on CBS is already halfway through its mid season. The show stars Maggie Q, Dylan McDermott, Mariana Klaveno and Victor Rasuk as an LAPD Threat Assessment Unit who track down stalkers in Los Angeles, California. While many critics think that the show’s writing is too clichéd, I, for one believe that ‘Stalker’ is a great series to look out for. The storylines might be stereotyped but the manner in which they are depicted on television is something I strongly support and commend.

The series not only sheds light on the subject of stalking but promotes several ways of tackling it. Throughout the mid season run, ‘Stalker’ has managed to attract a little over seven million viewers per episode and has kept a steady pace up till now. Despite receiving horrendous reviews from many critics, ‘Stalker’ has developed a decent fan base. I myself admire the show’s unique plot and character profiles. Undoubtedly, Maggie Q is the limelight of the series, hands down! She is truly a great actress in my humble opinion.

Dylan McDermott, on the other hand, did a fine job portraying Jack Larsen, a new recruit for the TAU unit. Another compelling aspect of ‘Stalker’ is the addition of the neo-noir genre. But what makes the show more gripping is the standout soundtrack. At the end of almost every episode, there is a song that fits in perfectly for the ending scene. Keeping these factors in mind, I believe that ‘Stalker’ should be renewed for a second season. Like every show, it should be given a chance. I strongly recommend ‘Stalker’ to those who are avid fans of dark and mysterious television shows.